Research Proposal: Acid Rain on Secale Cereale

Secale cereale, also known as rye, is a member of the grass family. S.cereale is used primarily for breads and flour, but is also fermented to make certain types of alcohol like whiskey. As a source of food and means for farmers and other producers who use S.cereale to generate income, it is important to understand the effects of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide on the S.cereale specimen.Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are two chemicals that are released into the atmosphere upon burning fossil fuels. When chemically compounded with other airborne chemicals combined with atmospheric precipitation acid rain is formed. Acid rain has harmful effects on most aspects of forestry (Khan and Devpura 2004). Sun (1988) said that acid rain's contribution to contamination of nitrogen oxide equates to that of raw sewage depositions. Also, when rainfall occurs and saturates soil with higher acidity it destroys certain nutrients in the soil that plants need to grow prosperously (Stevens 1996).

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide will have a detrimental effect on the growth and sustainable life of S.cereale. I believe this to be supported by the numerous experiments using a declining method, reducing the pH levels of each specimen in the experiment to see the effects of increased acidity. I have also conducted a similar experiment in the past that supported this hypothesis; that, when given water with lower pH, the growth of the plants are effected.

When I conduct the experiment I will use S.cereale seeds placed in pots of normal store bought soil. Soil type, number of seeds planted, and size of the pot will remain constant throughout each specimen. There will be six different specimens of S.cereale.

Six different formulae will be made in spray bottles. One will contain ordinary tap water which will have a pH of seven. The other five spray bottles will contain the same tap water, but each will have their pH reduced by one (6, 5, 4, 3, and 2). I will use sulfuric acid to create these artificial spray bottles of "acid rain." Each day the S.cereale will be sprayed nine times with their respective bottles of artificial acid rain. I will keep records every day of growth habits, time to sprout, height, and health of each specimen. Upon analysis I will conclude the effects of the ranging acidic water, including the neutral control, and compare each with the growth results to determine a cause and effect relationship. In turn, I will be testing the previously stated hypothesis that acid rain has a detrimental effect on the growth of the S.cereale specimen; which I predict will decrease with each specimen that has a lower pH than the previous.

Sun, Marjorie Apr 29, 1988. Acid Rain Said to Threaten Bay. Apr 29, 1988. Sc Apr 29, 1988. Science. Washington: Vol.240, Iss. 4852; pg. 601.

Stevens, William K. The Forest That Stopped Growing: Trail Is Traced to Acid Rain. Apr 16, 1996. New York Times. Pg. C.4
T.I. Khan, Shikha Devpura. Environmentalist. Lausanne: Dec 2004. Vol.24, Iss. 4; pg. 223